Andrew Dismore

Labour London Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden Andrew Dismore has called for a greater focus on the needs of students when making housing policy. Speaking after successfully moving his motion at the London Assembly plenary, passed unanimously by the Assembly ( text below) Mr Dismore said that many students were not aware of their rights, as it was the first time they were living away from home and their first experience of the private rental market.

 

Mr Dismore said:

 

‘I was particularly struck by the model ‘houses’ in an exhibition organised by Middlesex University students I recently visited, where students had written comments in the windows about their experiences, comments such as:

 

‘Everything you wished wouldn’t be there, there was. Mould, damp, rats and a terrible landlord.’ ; ‘ It feels like you’re signing a contract with Trotter’s Independent Trading Co’; ‘ the landlord cancelled our contract, a week before we should have moved in’ ; ‘ London = Mould, high rent and lazy landlord’;‘When it comes to our rent day my landlord is great at communication but if we have any maintenance issues it’s like he falls off the face of the earth!’;‘In our house we had rats, broken water pipes and really expensive gas and electricity bills.’;‘We didn’t get our deposit back, despite there was no damage to the flat. We all lost well over £1,000.’;‘the shower has been cold for 2 months, even after complaining’; and ‘The landlords were awful and didn’t listen to us with issues. A result of this, is that we got rats/mice, no heating, the ceiling had water running through and the pipes burst. Any problems with the house were blamed on us being ‘students’.

 

 

While there may be nothing new about students having poor accommodation (as I recall from my university days many years ago), the complaints I heard are now far worse than they used to be. It can be tough for students and young people with bad landlords, poor quality housing, overcrowding and still extremely expensive rents. The private rental market in London is at saturation point as it is, driving rents up. This is becoming a top cost and concern for students in London.

 

The concerns I heard at Middlesex are the same I hear at SOAS or UCL.  In London we have 367,000 students, who contribute a total of £5.9 billion to London’s economy. Students make an immense contribution to London, and we aren’t doing enough to provide them with acceptable and affordable places to live.

 

With such pressure in the housing market, it is hard for students and other young people setting up home for the first time to find decent affordable accommodation, and as they are new to the rental market there is a real risk that they will be subject to exploitation.

 

‘We clearly need to deal with London’s housing crisis in its many disparate forms, but I believe the next Mayor should pay particular attention to the needs of students and young people in his housing policies, with particular reference to ensuring that they are protected from bad landlords. I believe this should include a campaign working with universities and college authorities and student unions, to ensure students are aware of their rights as tenants and how to enforce them. The sooner we take action the better.’

 

 

Andrew Dismore views Middlesex University Students Union housing exhibition with Union President Sayed Alkadiri

 

ENDS:

 

Notes

Text of motion moved by Andrew Dismore AM at London Assembly Plenary on 3^rd March 2016:

This Assembly recognises that students studying in London are especially vulnerable when renting privately.

For many, this will be the first time they are away from home and the first time they have entered the private rental market, and at time when they are unlikely to be aware of their rights.

Students are also likely to experience excessive rents and unfair estate agent charges.

The Assembly therefore calls on the Mayor to pay particular attention to the needs of students in his housing policies, with particular reference to ensuring that they are protected from bad landlords, including a campaign working with universities and college authorities and student unions, to ensure students are aware of their rights as tenants and how to enforce them.